The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-12-23
4 SEASONABLE HAMPER.
a Christmas S.oI.

II in the dim yellow light Of certain
Christmas morning some few years ago u
pair OF curious eyes had peered into the
drcsslng-ruom OF a set of we,l-furnishcd
chambers in riccadilly, they would have
seen nothing more remarkable than a
tall good-lookinE gentleman, aged thirty
nine, engaged IN the act of shaving.
Nevertheless, there was something
noteworthy in that snug little ante
chamber, albeit the aforesaid pair of
curious eyes would have been unable to
see It. Herbert Pinniger. the 9, ntleman,
who was so deity using his razor, pos
sessed, IN common with other ladies' and
gentlemen, certain pcstIlcnt piece OF
property called a Conscience. This Con-
science he had, like many others of the
human race, kept carefully bottled up
out Of harms way. But, for some ocult
reason, on this special Christmas morn
ing the linniger Conscience became rest
les. His reStlessnesS grew and grew, till
ut length he burst the seals which held
him in, and issued forth, terrible AMI gi-
gantic, like the Genie in tho Eastern
story OF the Fisherman.
But Just then Snead disCretest of val
cts, entered, demanding instructions con
corning breakfast. \ desperate struggle,
invisible to the eyes of >nead, enSued,
and then the mighty giant,was once more
reduced 10 petty dimensions, and forced
TO re-entrr his prison house
Seated at the trim breakfast table, With
cheerful, gaslghts overhead TO COuntcrSct
the fOg, and Snead, nOiseltSs and dcz-
terous, lowering around, miniStering 10
his wants Mr.. Pinniger looked so serene
his Sp1t.eSs linen and well-cut morning
coat were So unrutiied, that no one could
have guessed how furious had been the
tusSle between himself and that we'll
intentioned Titan, now securely locked
up.
ANY letters. Sncai? dcmanIeI Mr.
Pinni ger, after he had dispatched an egg,
= rasher OF deliCately-f bacon, and
4 morscl OF game pie.
He made II j rule never 10 open letters
until he mad eaten part OF his breakfast
II the news conveyed IL them was
pleasant Il could wait; ii unpleasant,
II must not bc suffered to dcransc his
appetite.
Snead handed to his employer the
letters ON I tray.
Before opening them, Mr.. Pinniger
said Where's the TUassF'
Not come yet sir" replied Sncad,
"Bein' Christmas Day, l presume the
ncWsbOv is dIsorgauizel.'
-COniound Christmas Day ~ muttCrrt
his master. You needn't wait, >ncal.
And then proceeded 10 open hIs letters.
They were not precisely the sort o.
letters which most Of Us would care TO
receive on Christmas morning, when the
Joy-bclls were welcoming the Birthday
OF the Child who came bearing 4 message
OF peace from Heaven 10 Earth- lut
then business i business, and Mr.. Pin
niger's busines produced letters which
were not always OF an agreeable chaTa,.-
ter. Mr.. PInnigcr was not a professional
mouey-lender, but he was fond OF ali
kinds OF speculation, and, among other
speculatiOns, he now and then lent
money.
The first letter which he opened was
written in pallid ink, anI in that angular
rather illegiblv hand which some thirty
years ago was deemed the correct hand
Tor ladies. II WAS very diiiuse in style,
and was actually crossed, an absolute
G. ~" in th"Se days OF cheap paper and
cheap postage. Mr.. pinniger glanced
over II, and then with a grunt of im-
paiicHee tossed il into the IRE. II WIS
rom a widow lady, who kept = strug-
slns schoc! IN one OF the western suburbs